OUR HISTORY

In 1685, during an annual visit to the Cape, Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Drakenstein granted the grounds of Groot Constantia to Simon Van Der Stel, the VOC (Dutch East India Company) Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.

Van der Stel built the house and used the land to produce wine as well as other fruit and vegetables, and for cattle farming. Following Van der Stel's death in 1712 the estate was broken up and sold in three parts: Groot Constantia; Klein Constantia; and Bergvliet.

In 1779 the portion of the estate including Van der Stel's Cape Dutch-style manor house was sold to the Cloete family, who planted extensive vineyards and extended and improved the mansion by commissioning the architect Louis Michael Thibault. The wine cellar was added by Cloete in 1791. The house remained in the possession of the Cloete family until 1885, during which period the estate became famous for its production of Constantia dessert wine.

In 1885 Groot Constantia was purchased by the government of the Cape of Good Hope and was used as an experimental wine and agricultural estate. Following a disastrous fire in 1925 the house was extensively restored.

In the year 1925 the manor house completely burnt down. Funds were raised to reconstruct it to its original Cape Dutch splendour.

In 1969 the manor house became part of the South African Cultural History Museum, and in 1993 the estate passed into the ownership of the Groot Constantia Trust. The exhibition in the house is managed by Iziko South African Museum, and is particularly focused on rural slavery and the life of slaves during the early Cape colonial period.

Constantia History

1652

The First

Swaneweide, later named Steenberg, was granted to the widow Ras. The property was used for general agriculture, and is recognised as the oldest farm in South Africa. The first vineyards were introduced to the farm in the early 1700’s.

1685

The Beginning of Constantia

Land was granted to governor Simon Van Der Stel. He planted 10,000 vines, naming the farm after the VOC (Dutch East India Company) ship, Constantia. The original property comprised 763 hectares, stretching from the modern-day Constantia to Dieprivier.

1716

The Divide

Following his death, and with no remaining family at the Cape, Van Der Stel’s Constantia farm is subdivided into Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia (later named Hoop op Constantia) and Bergvliet.

1761

World Market

Constantia shifted it’s focus to the world market, with the first wines exported by 1761. By 1788, the Constantia dessert wines (Constantia Wyn), were highly acclaimed in Europe, having been enjoyed by notable historical characters such as Frederick the Great of Prussia, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Napoleon Bonaparte.

1796

The Youngsters

Buitenverwachting was established in 1796, Klein Constantia in 1823, Eagles’ Nest and Silvermist in 1984, Constantia Glen in 2000 and Beau Constantia in 2002.

1823

Surviving

Phylloxera spreads to South Africa and destroy millions of vines.

CONTINUE TO THE MODERN CONSTANTIA

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Simon Van der Stel founded Constantia’s first wine farm, Groot Constantia in 1685.
Constantia is a rich and diverse destination of its own within Cape Town, with wine farms, restaurants & many other attractions to look forward to on a short or long visit!